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The soft breeze ruffled the tanned farmer's dark brown hair so that they drew out the slightly bushy eyebrows framing his gleaming hazel brown eyes. The intensity of those eyes, coupled with his assertive voice, overcame what seemed to be a handicap - a lanky figure, instead of a muscular one. Still, the dirt-wiped hands seemed to be powerful ones and as she stepped back a little, the picture before her looked reliable enough.
Besides, what more can you ask for, at a time and place like this? It was not everyday that someone offered a hand in such a futile task. Just the thought that this fellow wanted in was enough to halt her resilience from ebbing away.
"I suppose there's no harm in you joining us." She pronounced the words in as non-commital a manner as possible. "But I need more than a pair of hands here. You'll have to tell me more so that we have a clearer idea of where to start."
Start what, Acacia? Start uncovering those corpses? For what hope really was there that they were still alive, if these people had gone missing for so long? It was mildly disturbing that she was letting these thoughts creep into her mind, without any aversion. Have you really gone beyond death, Acacia?
Suddenly, another thought struck her as she looked almost pitifully at Jared.
These two men... they're filled with such optimism. It'd be too cruel to shatter their hopes and dreams. And she felt a twinge in her bowels.
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